Research Article: Antimalarial and anti-hypoglycemic effects of Moringa oleifera leaf Extract in Plasmodium berghei infection in mice
Voravuth Somsak, Somrudee Nakinchat
Abstract
The emergence and spread of antimalarial drug resistance of Plasmodium parasites as well as malaria-associated hypoglycemia and deaths are critical problems in malaria endemic areas. Hence, finding new compounds, especially plant extracts having antimalarial and anti-hypoglycemic activities are urgently needed. The present study was aimed to investigate the antimalarial and anti-hypoglycemic effects of Moringa oleifera leaf extract in Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Aqueous crude extract of M. oleifera leaves was freshly prepared, and used for its in vivo efficacy test. Six groups of ICR mice (5 mice of each) were infected with 1x107 infected red blood cells of P. berghei ANKA by intraperitoneal injection, and given the extract orally with the doses of 100, 500, and 1000 mg/kg for four-consecutive days. Parasitemia and plasma glucose levels were subsequently measured. The results showed that M. oleifera leaf extract showed significant (p < 0.001) inhibition of parasitemia at a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, this extract also exerted anti-hypoglycemia in infected mice with a dose-dependent manner. The highest activities were found at the dose of 1000 mg/kg of the extract. Additionally, no effect on plasma glucose was found in normal mice treated with this extract. It can be concluded that aqueous crude extract of M. oleifera leaves exerted antimalarial and anti-hypoglycemic effects in P. berghei infected mice.
Keywords: medicinal plants, antiprotozoa, pharmacology
Voravuth Somsak, Somrudee Nakinchat
Abstract
The emergence and spread of antimalarial drug resistance of Plasmodium parasites as well as malaria-associated hypoglycemia and deaths are critical problems in malaria endemic areas. Hence, finding new compounds, especially plant extracts having antimalarial and anti-hypoglycemic activities are urgently needed. The present study was aimed to investigate the antimalarial and anti-hypoglycemic effects of Moringa oleifera leaf extract in Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Aqueous crude extract of M. oleifera leaves was freshly prepared, and used for its in vivo efficacy test. Six groups of ICR mice (5 mice of each) were infected with 1x107 infected red blood cells of P. berghei ANKA by intraperitoneal injection, and given the extract orally with the doses of 100, 500, and 1000 mg/kg for four-consecutive days. Parasitemia and plasma glucose levels were subsequently measured. The results showed that M. oleifera leaf extract showed significant (p < 0.001) inhibition of parasitemia at a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, this extract also exerted anti-hypoglycemia in infected mice with a dose-dependent manner. The highest activities were found at the dose of 1000 mg/kg of the extract. Additionally, no effect on plasma glucose was found in normal mice treated with this extract. It can be concluded that aqueous crude extract of M. oleifera leaves exerted antimalarial and anti-hypoglycemic effects in P. berghei infected mice.
Keywords: medicinal plants, antiprotozoa, pharmacology
